JULY 23 2023 Liz Derstine and I set off from Waterton Gap with intentions of setting the self- supported FKT on the Colorado Trail (Collegiate East). We had everything we needed in order to support ourselves on our backs. We also sent ourselves food resupplies along the way. Day one went well as we backpacked 60 miles. After a 3 hour sleep we awoke early day 2 in order to complete 59 miles to Copper Mountain where we stayed at the Fox Pine Inn. I had taken the original CT route and didn't see the detour late the previous night. So on day three, instead of continuing on Liz and I backtracked 1 mile and completed the official detour adding 2 miles for the day. Day three was difficult and we struggled to keep pace. We intended to hike 55 miles but struggled in the heat of the day. We ended up making it around 44 miles on day three. The next day was difficult for Liz as she struggled to keep pace even after properly fueling herself. It was a tough decision for both of us to make but we had talked about seperating prior to this attempt if one of us was on track for the womens supported fkt. This would mean that our self-supported hike would turn into a supported fkt because Liz was with me for the first 3 days (which can be seen as moral/emotional support).
With this development she got off trail at Twin Lakes in order to jump into crew mode. I would continue on day 4 on my own with all of my gear completing a very strenious and hot 52 miles. As I hiked on day 4 Liz quickly went into crew mode. She rented a car, gathered supplies, and asked for help from the CO community over social media. The news of this new supported fkt development spread quickly and she was getting messages from all sorts of people to give aid. Day 5 I backpacked to Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort where Liz was staying right off trail. I took a shower, ate a good breakfast, bandaged up my feet, and left the resort within a hour and a half of arriving with less gear and new shoes. Liz would meet me towards the end of day 5 with a rental car. The day was hot but with less gear I was able to move quickly and even run. I met Liz at a road crossing and we hiked up 10 miles where we camped. Day 6 I would leave her and she would hike back 10 miles to the rental car. Day 6 was exposed, hot, and I ran out of water but when I made it HWY 114 friends were waiting with food and encouragement. Christine, Lindsey and Liz helped repair my feet, feed me and packed a smaller trail running pack for me. Towards the end of this day I was met by Doug and Melinda. Melinda and I decided to do 3.5 miles extra but made a wrong turn at some point and I ended up walking an extra 2 miles that night. Day 7 I was extremely tired and took a lot of naps. The terrain was tough and technical. I arrived to meet the crew towards the end of day 7 at Silver Thread Scenic Byway. My friend Reese had come to join the crew for the remaining miles of the trail. We worked on my feet, I ate ice cream and replenished my snacks. There I met Michael who would be pacing me for the rest of day 7 through day 8. He would carry all of my camping gear while I carried my food in my running pack. We completed 18 miles after leaving the crew ending around midnight.
Day 8 was a long exposed section of trail with lot of ups and downs. Towards the end of that section we were caught in a raging thunderstorm and cold rain. We managed to complete 38 miles in those conditions. I met my crew at Molas where they again repaired my feet, fed me and I slept for a glorious 2 hours. Liz and I would be starting the last day together traversing nearly 73 miles to the finish. We began the last day at 11pm and I was met once again with extreme exhaustion. Even with a couple naps and falling asleep walking we managed to keep a solid pace through this day. The trail was easy to hike but we became nervous when we started seeing dark clouds and heard thunder. We knew I had one pass left to get over and if the storms wouldn't allow us that would throw off the entire FKT. As Liz got water she told me to go on ahead and try to make it over the pass in time. Luckily the storms moved on and there was no risk. With 20 miles left in our hike I began to run those last downhill miles to Durango. Honestly, that last section was bizarre and I strangely felt like I had been there before doing this exact thing. After talking with Reese and Liz they agreed they felt the same way. At points in those late hours I felt like I was running in circles or on a treadmill. However, after a couple hours I made it to the end of the CO trail on July 31 2023 surronded by my crew.
I didn't have a lot of expectations for this FKT before starting. All I desired was an adventure and I got one! I'm grateful for Liz who went from giving the FKT all she had to switching to crew mode. She put everything aside to care for me completely and selflessly. Friendship is truly a beautiful thing and I am so thankful for her. To the rest of the crew who came out to help, Thank you. I view supported FKTs as a true team sport. I'm the one doing the walking but the crew does literally everything else. They are the ones buying supplies, planning miles, repairing feet, providing pacing and emotional support. I am forever grateful for good friends and lofty trail goals. This would have never been possible without Liz Derstine (@pinkfeathers) , Christine Reed (@ruggedoutdoorswoman) , Reese Barkley (@reesie_pop) , Lindsey McDonald (@linz_mcd_) , Melinda and Doug (@helpelevatekids) , Michael Robertson (@scramble_legs) .Addtionally, Thank you to all over social media who shared our story and got the word out about the FKT. Thank you to those that helped provide some funds for the rental car and supplies. Community is king.